Jerauld County, SD News.....Wessington Springs Seminary November 25, 1887 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 28, 2005, 7:45 pm Wessington Springs Herald November 25, 1887 Wessington Springs Seminary The opening exercises at the Seminary last Tuesday was an occasion of much interest to our citizens as was evidenced by the goodly number in attendance. After prayer and music came the address of welcome by Supt. Binford on behalf of the schools of Jerauld county which address we hope to publish in the near future. The address of welcome, in behalf of the citizens of Wessington Springs, in Mr. Nulls absence, was given by Rev. C. H. Vessey in which he expressed the hearty sympathy felt by our citizens in the enterprise. Rev. J. B. Freeland made the response on behalf of the board of trustees and gave the following, in brief, as their reasons for selecting Wessington Springs as the location for the school. 1st. A large unoccupied field, 2nd. A location removed from the centers of vice and the saloon, 3rd, Its fine location, the Hills affording protection from north-west storms and furnishing water for family purposes and for fire protection. 4th. The securing of land in connection with the grounds to be sold for the benefit of the school, and 5th. The guarantee of cash subscriptions, land, stock, labor and merchandise to the amount of about $4000. In the absence of the secretary of the board of trustees Rev. G. C. Coffee made the report of the financial condition of the institution. The basement is completed and temporarily roofed and divided into chapel, ladies and gentlemen's apartments, kitchen, pantry and dining hall. The cost so far is about $1800, of which our citizens have contributed between $400 and $500 about one quarter of the amount pledged. After this came words of welcome and encouragement from Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Smart and Messrs. C. E. Thayer, A. M. Mathias, Rev. Berg, Rev. Vessey, T. L. Blank, A. LaPoint and Rev. A. B. Smart. Also remarks by M. D. Lewis, Rev. G. C. Coffee and Rev. Freeland of the board of trustees expressing their interest in the work and the belief that it was of God. A motion was made by Robt. Vessey and seconded by Dr. Mathias that a vote of thanks be tendered to Mr. Smart for his persevering efforts in securing the location of the school at this place and unanimously adopted by the audience. Upon the whole it was a very pleasant occasion, and marks an epoch in the history of Wessington Springs never to be forgotten. We can even now perceive the influence of this institution upon our social life. Our citizens seem to be inspired with new vigor and activity. May Godd bless the school. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/jerauld/newspapers/wessingt147gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/sdfiles/ File size: 3.1 Kb